Sydney, Dec. 5 (ANI): Former cricketer Craig McMillan believes installing Brendon McCullum as the new New Zealand captain should bring a more definitive style of play to the Black Caps team.

McMillan, who played 55 tests and 197 one-dayers for New Zealand from 1997 to 2005, feels the New Zealand team has lacked a distinctive brand in recent years and reckons McCullum's naturally assertive and aggressive nature would benefit the team.

"Unfortunately the national team in recent times has generally been going backwards at a great rate of knots. But if Brendon is chosen his batting discipline must improve, he is not at the level of Taylor," Stuff.co.nz quoted McMillan, as saying.

According to the report, McMillan's overriding wish is that a decision on the leadership be made immediately to stop on-going speculation, which damaged the sport.

"We should be celebrating a great away win against Sri Lanka, but instead we are poring over the merits of McCullum and Taylor," he said.

McMillan also supported coach Mike Hesson having the final say on his captain, but would have considerable sympathy for Taylor if he was ousted, the report said.

"He has done an OK job in the 12 months or so he has been in the job. It takes time to learn the art of captaincy and I think back to Stephen Fleming who took a few years before he felt comfortable in the job. Taylor is not the finished article and who is to say that in another couple of years he is not a very good captain. But the team's best interests must take precedence," he said. (ANI)